Baltimore County cancels school Friday; Kamenetz praises work to clear roads

Many shovels needed to clear long Catonsville driveway [Video]

Sara White, of Catonsville, and a few friends met up to help clear another friend's long driveway after about a foot of snow covered the area Thursday. (Lauren Loricchio/Baltimore Sun Media Group video)

Sara White, of Catonsville, and a few friends met up to help clear another friend's long driveway after about a foot of snow covered the area Thursday. (Lauren Loricchio/Baltimore Sun Media Group video)

Baltimore County Public Schools will be closed Friday for the second day in a row because of the largest winter storm to hit the Mid-Atlantic region this year.

By using another snow day Friday, Baltimore County has reached its limit for the school year, said schools spokeswoman Diana Spencer said.

Residents can expect the snow to taper off Thursday afternoon and evening because of warm air, National Weather Service meteorologist Andy Woodcock said. The sun is expected to reappear Friday morning, with highs in the mid-30s.

Snow totals reported by the National Weather Service include: 18 inches in Reistertown, almost 16 inches in Towson, 13 inches in Cockeysville, and 11 inches in Timonium.

Baltimore County has spent nearly $9.9 million this year on winter storm operations, which is higher than what was spent last year, Baltimore County spokeswoman Lauren Byrd said.

Crews are working to remove snow from Baltimore County roads, and residents are being asked not to shovel snow into the road, which is illegal.

There are approximately 561 people working to clear the roads with 433 pieces of equipment, Byrd said.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said Thursday afternoon that he anticipates this storm to cost $1.5 million in overtime and salt costs. He commended the overnight and morning work from county work crews.

"I took a tour around the county (this morning)," he said. "The main roads were in excellent shape, the collector roads and arterial roads were pretty good, and most of the side streets had one pass-thorugh by nine or 10 a.m."

Kamenetz said plows would return to the sidestreets tonight if there is more than one inch of snow, but would otherwise maintain main roads for the Friday morning commute. He said officials would continue to monitor forecasted snow for the weekend, as well.

"Hopefully, there will be a break to allow our folks to get som rest, come back again and start all over again," Kamenetz said.

Public schools, senior centers, recreation centers and public libraries were also closed Thursday because of the weather.